Custom Silicone & Rubber Labels

A rubber label is a logo badge made by filling a mould with liquid colour, layer by layer, and curing it into a soft, flexible piece. The mould is cut from your artwork, so every colour sits in its own recessed area and the logo stands up from the base. When the badge comes out of the mould it already has its final shape: a rectangle, a circle, a shield or the outline of your mark.

Two materials are used. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is the traditional one; it is what most people mean by a “rubber patch” or “rubber label” on jeans, jackets and backpacks. Silicone looks almost the same but feels softer and smoother, stays flexible across a wider temperature range and is often chosen by brands that prefer to avoid PVC. Both can be moulded flat (2D), with every area at one of a few fixed heights, or sculpted (3D), with rounded, bevelled detail.

There is also a third, thinner product that brands often call a silicone label: a silicone print transfer. Instead of being moulded as a separate badge, silicone ink is printed in layers onto a carrier and heat-pressed onto the fabric. It stretches with the garment, which is why it is popular for leggings, sports bras and performance tops.

• Jeans and denim jackets. A rubber badge on the back waistband, a pocket or a sleeve is a modern alternative to a leather or jacron patch. It stays the same colour and does not crack or shrink in the wash.
• Hoodies, sweatshirts and jackets. A small badge at the hem, cuff or chest pocket adds a three-dimensional brand mark that embroidery cannot match for crisp edges.
• Caps and beanies. A front or side badge on structured caps and folded beanie cuffs. See our hat labels for the inside sweatband labels that go with them.
• Bags, backpacks and luggage. Rubber shrugs off rain and scuffs, so it is a natural fit for backpacks and bags, wash bags and laptop sleeves.
• Workwear and outdoor gear. A rugged badge that is easy to wipe clean. Inside the garment, the care information still goes on a sewn outdoor gear label.
• Activewear. Here the thin silicone print transfer usually wins, because a moulded badge does not stretch. See activewear labels.

Rubber labels are less suited to very fine, lightweight fabrics such as silk or chiffon, where the weight of a thick badge pulls the fabric, and to the inside of a garment against the skin, where a soft woven label or a tagless print is more comfortable.

• Keep lines thick enough to fill. Each colour is a small pocket in the mould. Hairlines, tiny dots and very small type may not fill cleanly. As a rule, if a detail is hard to see on your screen at actual size, it will be hard to mould.
• Limit the colours. Every colour is filled separately, and colours need a small raised wall between them. Two to four colours usually look cleanest; more are possible on larger badges.
• Choose a base shape. A rectangle, circle or shield holds loose letters together and gives the stitching line a clean edge.
• Plan the stitching edge. Leave a plain border for the needle so the stitches do not run through the logo.
• Match the size to the spot. A waistband or cuff badge is small and narrow; a bag front can be larger. Measure the flat area where it will sit before you choose a size.
• Give Pantone references. Colours are mixed to match, so a Pantone code gives the most consistent result between orders.

Vector artwork (AI, PDF or SVG) is best. Our artwork preparation guide explains how to set up files, and we redraw rough logos free of charge.

Most rubber labels are made for adult clothing and accessories, and the main practical question is how they behave in use. Both PVC and silicone are waterproof, colourfast and resistant to scuffs. The main thing to avoid is very high heat: ironing directly on a badge or pressing at the wrong settings can soften or mark it. Turn garments inside out to wash, and put the care advice on the garment's own care label.

Material rules matter more for children's products. In the US, children's products have limits on lead, and toys and child care articles also have limits on certain phthalates, which are plasticisers sometimes used in soft PVC. In the EU, REACH restricts several phthalates in plasticised materials used in many consumer articles. If your products are for children, or you simply want to avoid these questions, ask for a phthalate-free PVC or a silicone label, request material test reports with your order, and confirm the requirements for your market with your compliance advisor.